Whānau/ HapūCommunity

Community Development

We are committed to upholding Marae/ Hapū rangatiratanga and assisting them to collectively plan, develop and manage resources. Over recent years Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga has been involved with several projects and the development of key strategies, including those undertaken by local and regional councils that have provided the opportunity for Māori to identify and articulate their needs and aspirations.

Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga
recognises that as the region has been growing, so too has the
maturity of its Māori constituents, their organisations,
communities, Marae and Hapū.

Māori represent a significant and
fast-growing proportion of the Hawke's Bay population and in
recognition of the historical, contemporary and future needs of
Māori, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga has invested in the establishment
of a Māori Community Development Unit.

Support Marae/
Hapū in their role as kaitiaki in managing and responding to
development needs, aspirations and pressures

Coordinate the
ongoing identification and prioritisation of Māori development
objectives and goals

Facilitate the
integration of Māori strategic priorities into regional development
strategy with local and government stakeholders

Provide
liaison, advisory and consultancy services to Marae/ Hapū and local
government in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991,
Local Government Act 2002 and their subsequent amendments

Te Manaaki Taiao will work
closely with Marae/ Hapū and Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga partners to
ensure Māori values are incorporated into long term strategies and
plans for this region, resulting in mutually beneficial
collaboration and tangible outcomes.

Te Manaaki Taiao is now
considered as a respected contributer to environmental
decision-making by Hawke's Bay local authorities, with the release
of a substantial research report relating to the lower Tukituki
River Catchment.

The report, Cultural Values and
Uses of the Tukituki Catchment, examines a multitude of
historic, cultural and Treaty issues relating to the river and
addresses the disconnection between the Maori world view and
official practices around decision-making about the care and
development of the river.